Malik Beasley Under NBA Investigation Over Gambling Allegations
While Malik Beasley is no longer a target of a federal gambling investigation, the NBA is doing its due diligence into the serious allegations involving the free agent guard.
The league told ESPN it is conducting its own probe into Beasley after a sports book detected unusual betting interest in his stats in January 2024.
While it's unclear how long the league has been looking into the 28-year-old ... the outlet cited a source that said the process is "believed to be in its final stages."
Megan Thee Stallion Hitting Jay-Z Event W/ Klay Thompson ... Auctioning Performance!
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Two months after launching their relationship, Megan Thee Stallion and Klay Thompson are once again stepping out in public ... this time at a star-studded Jay-Z event!
TMZ Sports has learned Klay, 35, and Meg, 30, plan to hit up Hov and billionaire Michael Rubin's REFORM Alliance Casino Gala at the Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City on Saturday, one of their few public cameos together.
Of course, the future Hall of Famer first got people talking about him and Meg on July 12 ... when he posted a pic kissing a woman whose back was to the camera. Fans speculated it was the rapper.
Shawn Kemp Hits Weezy Concert ... Lil Bit Of Fun Before Home Detention!!!
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Shawn Kemp spent his last night before beginning home detention enjoying the sights and sounds of a Lil Wayne concert.
TMZ Sports has learned the former NBA superstar -- who was just ordered to 30 days of electronic home monitoring for firing a gun during a 2023 parking lot dispute -- hit Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle on Wednesday to get down at "The Carter VI" tour.
He didn't seem like a guy too concerned about the sentence he was getting set to serve -- as video we obtained showed him vibing to Weezy's tunes.
Steve Ballmer Aspiration 'Conned Me' ... Speaks Out Amid Kawhi Leonard Probe
Steve Ballmer is adamantly denying the L.A. Clippers had a role in Kawhi Leonard's massive endorsement deal with Aspiration ... claiming the contract came months after the NBA superstar already agreed to an extension with the team.
The billionaire owner opened up on the recent bombshell report on ESPN on Thursday ... kicking things off by saying the Clippers have always abided by the league's salary cap circumvention rules, as it's "the right thing to do."
Ballmer then went into detail on his relationship with the now-bankrupt company ... saying the team was approached regarding a potential sponsorship deal, and he felt it was a "match made in heaven" based on its emphasis on carbon neutrality.
Jalen Green Stars In Calvin Klein Ad Slam Junk!!!
New year, new team, new endeavor for NBA hooper Jalen Green ... 'cause the Phoenix Suns guard is now an underwear model -- starring in a new campaign for Calvin Klein!!
The 23-year-old showed off the brand's Fall 2025 look in a commercial shoot ... which showed him walking around the city before ending up at a rooftop basketball court.
Considering this is CK we're talking about, it wasn't long before Green ditched his clothes and worked on his jumper in a pair of grey boxers.
Baron Davis 'DWTS' Assist From Iman Shumpert ... Ex-Teammate's Giving Me Advice!!!
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Baron Davis is turning to one of his former NBA teammates to help him win a Mirrorball Trophy this year -- telling TMZ Sports he's getting dancing advice from none other than Iman Shumpert!
Just hours after it was revealed the former Golden State Warriors point guard would be on the newest season of "Dancing With The Stars" ... he told us he's already picking Shumpert's brain on how to two-step through the competition.
Shumpert, of course, won Season 30 of the show -- and Davis said Wednesday the guys have already FaceTimed to talk strategy. He added that "some note-taking" sessions are on the way as well.
Kawhi Leonard, Steve Ballmer Accused Of Bogus $28M Endorsement Deal To Skirt Cap ... NBA Investigating
UPDATE
5:20 PM PT -- The Los Angeles Clippers released a lengthy statement Wednesday evening addressing the allegations ... saying the idea Ballmer invested in Aspiration to "funnel money to Kawhi Leonard is absurd."
"Steve invested because Aspiration co-founders presented themselves as committed to doing right by their customers while protecting the environment."
The statement goes on to say that neither the team nor Steve had "any knowledge of improper activity by Aspiration" -- which was a team sponsor from the 2021 to the 2023 seasons before defaulting on their contract -- "or its co-founder until after the government initiated its investigation."
"There is nothing unusual or untoward about team sponsors doing endorsement deals with players on the same team. Neither Steve nor the Clippers organization had any oversight of Kawhi’s independent endorsement agreement with Aspiration. To say otherwise is flat-out wrong."
It closes with L.A. saying they "welcome" the league's investigation into Aspiration ... and will continue "to cooperate with law enforcement in its investigation into Aspiration's blatantly fraudulent activity."
12:53 PM PT -- The NBA just announced it is launching an investigation into the claims made in Pablo Torre's report.
Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers are under fire, accused of circumventing the NBA's salary cap with a huge, no-show endorsement deal ... but the team is firing back, calling BS on the allegations!
In the report from Pablo Torre -- who drew the ire of Jordon Hudson earlier this year -- Leonard is accused of signing a $28 million deal with a now bankrupt company, Aspiration, that was at least partially funded by the billionaire owner of the Clips, Steve Ballmer ... as a way around salary cap restrictions.
If true, that's obviously a huge no-no as far as NBA rules go.
Despite the lucrative deal, Torre says he was unable to find any instance where Kawhi worked with the tree planting company.
Shaq Call Me Big Smella!!! Drops New Cologne
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If you wanna smell "strong" and "smooth" like Shaquille O'Neal, now's your chance ... the NBA Hall of Famer just dropped a signature cologne!!
TMZ Sports has learned the fragrance launched on Wednesday ... and the legendary center has his fingerprints all over the final product, which is "all about presence."
"It’s strong, smooth, and leaves a mark, just like I aim to do in everything I take on. I wanted something luxurious but still within reach, and this is it," O'Neal said.
NBA Star Jaylen Brown Mum On Dad's Attempted Murder Case
If Jaylen Brown has thoughts on his father's attempted murder case, he's opting to keep them to himself.
The NBA superstar was peppered on Tuesday with questions about his dad's Aug. 20 arrest while he was out at LAX ... but he declined to answer any of them.
It's, of course, entirely possible the Boston Celtics forward doesn't have an opinion on the matter, as TMZ Sports is told he and Marselles Brown are not close.
Zach Edey Traffic Stop Video Cop Livid Over Speeding ... '100 Is Not OK!!!'
Zach Edey got a tongue lashing from a cop after he was busted for speeding earlier this year ... as newly released police video shows an officer chastised him for allegedly going over 100 MPH on a roadway.
The traffic stop took place on May 1 in Tippecanoe County, Indiana ... after Edey was accused of doing 101 in a 55.
Indiana State Police body cam footage shows almost immediately, the basketball player was berated by the cop for his lead foot.
Doris Burke Demoted From NBA Finals Broadcast ... Tim Legler Takes Over
Doris Burke is losing her spot on the NBA Finals broadcast team -- the famous TV talent is being replaced by former hooper/longtime commentator Tim Legler.
ABC/ESPN's decision was reported on Thursday ... which will end her historic run as the first woman to serve as a game analyst for a men's pro sports championship.
Instead of Burke, the networks will utilize the ex-NBA player to work alongside Mike Breen and Richard Jefferson.
Jaylen Brown's Dad Youth Football Coach 'Faces Long, Challenging Road' After Parking Lot Dispute
The man involved in a violent parking lot dispute with Jaylen Brown's father, Marselles, faces a long and challenging road to recovery ... this according to his team, which stated this week the incident has "changed his life."
The Las Vegas youth football organization shared an update on Tuesday ... almost a week after the former boxer was arrested for allegedly stabbing coach Cross Tupuola at All American Park.
"Cross Tupuola, our beloved brother, uncle, football coach, and proud father. Recently suffered a horrific tragedy that changed his life for him and his family in an instant," the team said on Instagram.
NBA's Marcus Morris Walked Out Of Airport In Shackles ... New Arrest Video Shows
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When Marcus Morris was arrested at an airport last month after he allegedly committed fraud, Florida cops not only threw him handcuffs -- they wrapped his ankles in shackles too.
The stunning visuals were all captured on new police video, obtained by TMZ Sports.
In the body camera footage, you can see officers from the Broward County Sheriff's Office approach Morris and his family on July 27 while they were waiting at a gate at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
Malik Beasley How NBA Star Was Cleared in Gambling Probe
Malik Beasley's had quite the experience in the NBA, as he's gone from playing in some of the highest-profile basketball games to dealing with legal probes into his behavior off-court.
The professional hoops star made a name for himself for bringing serious talent to several teams in the league, as well as for his 2020 arrest and subsequent gambling probe.
We're going to check out how the shooting guard carved out a space for himself in the league -- and had to deal with some troubling matters in between games.
Malik Played a Single Season in College Before Joining the NBA
Beasley received several offers to play college ball when he was in high school, according to Sports Illustrated, and he eventually signed on to join Florida State's team.
The athlete only spent a single season with the Seminoles before he was drafted by the Denver Nuggets in 2016, and he remained with the organization for four years.
Beasley bounced around from team to team after he left the Nuggets, and he joined the rosters of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Utah Jazz and Milwaukee Bucks, among others.
The professional basketball player eventually ended up with the Detroit Pistons, signing with the organization in July 2024.
Beasley Got Into Legal Trouble in 2020
Beasley found himself in hot water back in 2020, when he was arrested after authorities said he'd pointed a gun at a family who'd stopped their vehicle in front of his house in Plymouth, Minnesota.
Officials later found marijuana and a stolen gun at his residence after obtaining a warrant to search the athlete's property.
Beasley eventually pleaded guilty to one felony count of threats of violence, and he claimed he "was not in my right mind" when the incident occurred and wanted to "humbly apologize for my actions."
He was sentenced to 120 days in prison, and he was ultimately released in August 2021 after serving just 78 days.
Malik Was the Target of a Gambling Probe ... And Got Off the Hook
Beasley became the subject of an investigation into allegations of gambling, which were related to both NBA games and prop bets, in June 2025, according to ESPN.
A gambling industry source spoke to the outlet and claimed heavy betting activity centered on the athlete's statistics by at least one major U.S.-based sportsbook, beginning in January 2024.
However, Beasley's attorneys Steve Haney and Mike Schachter stated they were able to clear the athlete of wrongdoing after having extensive contact with the Eastern District of New York regarding the gambling probe.
Haney told ESPN the allegations about the athlete's supposed gambling habits had caused "catastrophic consequence" to his client, who had a prospective deal with the Pistons go up in smoke after the gambling probe commenced.
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Kevin O'Leary My Boys And I Coughed Up $13 Mil ... For A Basketball Card!!!
Kevin O'Leary's latest investment didn't come from a "Shark Tank" episode -- Mr. Wonderful and his buddies just coughed up a whopping $12.932 MILLION for the most expensive sports card in the world -- which features patches and autographs from Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant!!
The businessman revealed himself as one of the buyers in the historic purchase on CNBC on Monday ... saying he, Matt Allen and Paul Warshaw dug deep into their couch cushions to buy the super rare memorabilia.
O'Leary defended the move ... comparing the item to a work of art, as the value will only increase in time.
Kobe Bryant's Most Iconic Moments Through The Years!
It's been over five years since Kobe Bryant died, but we're certain his fans still have plenty of fond memories of the Los Angeles Lakers star from over the years.
We caught up with the basketball legend on several occasions over the years, and you gotta imagine he eventually got used to all the cameras and flashing lights, because the guy really knew how to keep his cool in public.
And we think it's safe to say Kobe was a man of the people, because he was always down to pose for a photo with a fan or five. Check out our video for even more highlights from the athlete's life!